5 Best Toilet Risers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
If you're faced with mobility issues, an extra few inches on the toilet will help keep you safe and secure.
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The ability to get on and off the toilet is one of those daily tasks we take for granted, until ailing joints or an injury make it extremely painful, if not impossible. So-called “comfort height” toilets are a couple inches taller than standard commodes, but that’s not always enough of a lift. Here’s where toilet risers come in. The devices sit atop your existing toilet seat, decreasing how far you need to descend to reach a seated position by as much as six inches.
“Toilet risers help maintain independence for people with mobility issues or those recovering from an injury or surgery,” says Dr. Karen Jacobs, Associate Dean in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Boston University, and past president of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). “Risers also provide fall prevention for users with some kind of disability challenge.”
At the Good Housekeeping Institute, our experts routinely test products and services that help maintain accessibility in the home, including slip-resistant flooring, smart locks and bidet seats. For this report, we turned our attention to toilet risers, assessing a dozen different types and styles on factors like ease of installation, comfort and durability.
Here are the five best toilet risers for every type of situation.
Our top picks:
After our top picks, continue reading for more details on what we look for in the best toilet risers, plus key factors to consider as you shop around for the best model for your home. Don't miss our expert advice and testing-based recommendations for a slew of other bathroom products, including toilets, showerheads and towel warmers.
Pros
- Quick, secure installation
- Adjustable handles
- Works with all toilets
Cons
- Not as stable as bolted-in-place risers
Carex is an established name in the medical home-care category, one trusted by our experts. In extensive Lab tests, the EZ Lock Raised Toilet Seat with Handles stood out for its high-quality design and ease of installation. “The clamp-on system is a good middle ground between risers that sit on top of the seat without any anchor and those that are bolted in place,” says Alec Scherma, test engineer at the Good Housekeeping Institute.
We like that the Carex is compatible with both round and elongated toilet seats. To install, you simply set the riser on top of the seat and turn the clamp until it locks securely in place. While not as stable as bolted-in-place risers, the riser is stable enough for users who weigh up to 300 pounds. In our tests, people of various heights and weights found the riser easy to use and comfortable to sit on. “The handles feel solid and secure, adding stability and peace of mind,” one noted.
Though you’re paying a bit extra for its added features, Carex’s EZ Lock Raised Toilet Seat with Handles is our experts’ top choice for most users.
| Type | Clamp-on |
| Height increase | 5 inches |
| Weight capacity | 300 lbs |
| Material | Molded plastic and aluminum |
Pros
- No installation required
- Stores away easily
- Features rubber pads and amn interior lip for added stability
Cons
- Designed for round toilet bowls, not elongated ones
If your mobility issues aren’t too serious, or if you're just looking for a little extra height as a form of fall prevention, you might be able to save some money by opting for a set-on riser, like this version from HealthSmart. “There’s no fastening system with this type of riser, so it installs in seconds,” says Scherma. Rubber pads on the underside and an interior lip add traction and stability, but nothing on the order of toilet risers that lock in place with some kind of fastening system. Made from lightweight molded plastic, the riser weighs about one pound, which makes for easy storage, though it's not as durable as heavy-duty composite risers.
One other thing to note: HealthSmart recommends this set-on toilet riser for round toilet bowls. If you have an elongated toilet bowl at home, consider the Carex set-on model that is included in this round-up as the best Portable Toilet Riser.
| Type | Set-on |
| Height increase | 5 inches |
| Weight capacity | 300 lbs |
| Material | Plastic |
Vive Toilet Seat Riser for Seniors
Pros
- Extremely stable
- Features padded handles
- Straightforward installation
Cons
- 3.5 inch height increase is less than others
Bolt-on toilet seat risers are the most stable option because they’re secured to the toilet with fasteners. “They tend to be a more permanent solution,” says Jacobs, adding that it’s important to get the installation just right for maximum safety and security.
That’s one reason our experts like this bolt-on riser from Vive Health. It includes a pair of screws and washers that fit through the holes on the toilet bowl used to anchor your regular seat. The tool-free installation is simple and straightforward, resulting in a highly secure riser for users who weigh up to 300 pounds. The height increase of 3.5 inches is less than other risers, but the foam-padded arm rests are 9.5 inches above the seat, which guides users to a soft landing.
Note the Vive raised toilet seat with handles comes in round and elongated shapes, so be sure to choose the right model for your toilet at home.
| Type | Bolt-on |
| Height increase | 3.5 inches |
| Weight capacity | 300 lbs |
| Material | Composite and aluminum |
Pros
- Universal design works with round or elongated toilets
- Durable construction
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Not as secure as risers that fasten to the toilet
While many set-on risers are designed to pair with either a round or elongated toilet seat, our tests confirmed that Carex’s Toilet Seat Elevator is compatible with either. That makes it the top portable toilet riser with our experts, since you won’t have to worry about it fitting with toilets you encounter on the road.
The Carex adds 5.5 inches to any toilet seat, which is up there with most of the toilet risers our experts reviewed for this report. It has an ample weight capacity of 300 pounds. The molded plastic construction is easy to clean and should hold up well over time. Though because of its portable nature, it's not as secure as other models.
| Type | Set-on |
| Height increase | 5.5 inches |
| Weight capacity | 300 lbs |
| Material | Plastic |
OasisSpace Stand Alone Raised Toilet Seat
Pros
- Maximum stability
- Adjustable height
- Padded seat
Cons
- Bulky design takes up a lot of space
Over-toilet commodes offer maximum stability for users with severe mobility issues, for example someone recovering from hip or knee replacement surgery or a person with advanced arthritis. While our experts didn't get hands-on with this version from OasisSpace, it has all the key features recommended by occupational therapists, including a solid metal frame with adjustable height settings, non-slip feet and padded handles. We also like that, unlike most toiler risers, the commode chair has its own
soft padded seat, which is more comfortable than hard plastic, even if it could prove less durable over time.
Like all over-toilet commodes, the OasisSpace is more cumbersome than a standard toilet riser and it does not fold up for storage. So it's best thought of a permanent (or semi-permanent in the case of surgery recovery) solution.
| Type | Over-toilet commode |
| Height increase | Can be raised in 1-inch intervals up to 31.4 inches |
| Weight capacity | 300 lbs |
| Material | Aluminum frame, padded foam seat |
How we choose the best toilet risers
Because toilet risers are specialized medical devices, our experts turned to professional home care providers, including trained staff at the American Occupational Therapy Association, to understand the category. Our team then reviewed the marketplace to find models of each type of toilet riser that are widely available online and in stores. Hands-on testing took place in the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab of the Good Housekeeping Institute.
Our engineers started by unboxing the devices and reviewing the user’s manuals and instructions for installation and assembly. Next, they installed the toilet risers on two separate toilets, assessing the clarity of the instructions and level of difficulty of the project. We then checked the height of each riser to make sure it matched the manufacturer’s claim. All-important usability tests involved people of different heights and weights trying each toiler riser and evaluating its ease of use, comfort and stability. Finally, we assessed ease of cleaning, which included making note of the material composition and presence of features that might make the process more challenging, like the presence of grime-trapping cracks and crevices.
What to look for when choosing the best toilet risers
It’s always best to consult with a trained professional when adding home-care devices to the home. But it helps to have a clear handle on the features that matter most so that you can be an educated participant in the process. Here’s what to think about.
✔️ Type: There are four main types of toilet risers to choose from:
- Set-on: These risers are designed to sit freely atop the toilet seat. Though they typically have rubber pads for traction, there’s no fastening system holding them in place. They’re inexpensive and easy to use, but offer the least stability.
- Clamp-on: These risers feature a clamp that secures them to the toilet bowl, usually via a turn-activated locking mechanism. Most models come with padded handrails for added stability. Clamp-on risers are relatively affordable and fairly easy to put on and take off, making them a good option in multi-generational households, where some members need the assistance, but others don't.
- Bolt-on: The fact that these risers fasten to the toilet bowl with long bolts or other fasteners makes them the most stable and secure type of toilet riser. They almost always come with side handles. These risers are more of a permanent solution, since installing and removing them takes a bit of time.
- Over-toilet commode: Also known as a commode chair, this device differs from other toilet risers in that it’s designed to sit over the existing toilet and channel liquid and solid waste into the bowl. The adjustable frame can be set so that the seat is as high as 22 inches. Over-toilet commodes are very stable and don’t require installation (after the initial assembly). But their bulky design takes up a lot of space and require a several inches of clearance around the toilet, so they’re not suited to all bathrooms.
✔️ Shape: While some toilet risers are universal, meaning they’ll work with any toilet, others are designed to fit on either a round or elongated toilet bowl. Check the shape of your toilet to make it’s compatible with the riser you plan to purchase.
✔️ Weight capacity: Make sure the toilet riser is rated to handle the weight of the heaviest household member who will be using it. Most toilet risers have a capacity of at least 250 pounds, with some as high as 300 or more.
✔️ Material: This factor impacts durability, as well as how easy the toilet riser will be to keep clean. Hard plastic and composite are better than vinyl-covered foam. For the handles, as well as the frames on over-toilet commodes, aluminum is preferred.
Are toilet risers covered by insurance?
In most cases, health insurance providers do not cover the cost of toiler risers. The one exception is over-toilet commodes, which are covered by some insurance plans, including Medicare. As the Medicare website explains, "Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers commode chairs as durable medical equipment (DME) when your doctor orders them for use in your home if you’re confined to your bedroom."
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Dan DiClerico has tested and written about bathroom fixtures, including toilet accessories, for more than two decades. He also has extensive testing products that are intended to improve accessibility throughout the home for people of all ages and abilities. As Director of Home Improvement & Outdoor at the Good Housekeeping Institute, Dan oversaw the latest round of toilet riser testing in our Lab.
Having written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids.
